Florian Wirtz ‘doubts’ emerge as agreement reached over £126m Liverpool target

Both Micah Richards and Alan Shearer are in agreement over Liverpool target Florian Wirtz, and his potential inability to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League from the Bundesliga

Micah Richards and Alan Shearer both doubt whether Florian Wirtz will handle the Premier League’s physicality as Liverpool continue to push for his signature. The German maestro is being lined up for a move to Anfield this month.

Leverkusen’s 22-year-old playmaker has emerged as the next top target for Arne Slot’s league title-winning Reds, who have already poached wing-back Jeremie Frimpong from the Bundesliga outfit for a cut-price £30m. Wirtz’s transfer fee is the only thing that is currently delaying a deal being completed.

The German side have rejected each of Liverpool’s bids so far as they reportedly hold out for a British record transfer sum of over £126m.

Should the German eventually arrive in England, however, pundits and ex-pros Richards and Shearer agree that he may be unable to cope with the increased physicality of the top flight, while they lauded him as a special technical talent.

So far, Leverkusen have turned down two offers from the Reds for Wirtz, the latest totalling £110m, though another is expected imminently for the star who registered 16 goals and 13 assists in all competitions last year.

German outlet BILD also report that personal terms will be no issue, and Wirtz has already agreed on a prospective contract that will keep him on Merseyside until 2030.

In light of such revelations and the increased likelihood that a deal will soon be reached, Richards and Shearer chewed the fat about Wirtz, agreeing that their only worry would be his youthful frame.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer questioned to co-host Richards: “Is he that good Micah?”

“He’s exceptional,” retorted the former Manchester City defender. “Obviously, he’s got to do it in a league which is more physical. That is my only doubt. It’s my only doubt. Tactically, he’s got it. Technically, he’s got it.

“The way he manipulates the ball… he was a superstar from a young age, so he can deal with pressure. It’s just, where does he fit into the system?

“Is he gonna play in Dominik Szoboszlai’s role? Or is he gonna play him out on the left-hand side, because he can do both, and honestly, for £120million he’s worth every single penny.”

Shearer then chimed in, adding: “I’ve seen him quite a bit this season in the Champions League, and there’s no doubt he’s a really, really talented player.

“It’s a hell of a lot of money, but I think he’ll be a success. I would say the same in terms of the physical side of things. With technical ability and all of that, he’s a very, very good player.”

Though Reds fans will hope an agreement is reached soon, former Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller admitted this week that it may ‘take a while’ until the details are ironed out between both parties. Though he says Wirtz is keen and likely to end up a Liverpool player.

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